STEVIE Lyle is back with Cardiff Devils for the 2009-10 Elite League season.

The return of Lyle, who helped Belfast Giants win both the British Cup and Challenge Cup last season, is a massive coup for the Devils, who are now in position to take advantage of having a British netminder by signing an extra import skater.

Elite League teams can have 10 imports involved in any one match and virtually all will have to make one of those a netminder, but the Devils will now have no need to do that.

“It feels good to be back,” said Welshman Lyle, who comes in with last season’s goal tender Peter Aubry moving to the French League.

“I had two good years with Belfast Giants, but the travelling back and forth from my home in Penarth was difficult.

“I was keen to see much more of my son Dylan, who is six-years-old, and signing for Cardiff Devils allows me to do that.

“There has also been significant progress at Cardiff Devils as a club and they are now in a position to push on and challenge the top four in Elite League. I would like to be part of that.

“Coach Gerad Adams is excited about the team he is putting together and personally I can’t wait to get started.”

Lyle helped Cardiff Devils win the Superleague title in 1997 and the play-offs championship two years later, saying: “They were fantastic times and if I can help the Devils to more success I will be absolutely delighted.”

Former Rumney High School pupil Lyle came through Cardiff Devils’ junior ranks and was handed his first chance during the Europa Cup quarter-finals in Holland when he was just 14.

“I was back-up goalie to Jason Wood and he was knocked out when a shot by Kip Noble, who was playing for Tilburg, went through his face mask,” said Lyle.

“I was sent on and thankfully it went well.”

Remarkably, Lyle played a leading role as Cardiff Devils defeated Ukrainian club Sokol Kiev and Torpedo Kazakhstan to qualify for the semi-finals.

“That was incredible, I was so proud to play for my home city club,” said Lyle.

“I moved on to gain more experience with other clubs.

“I went to North America and that was a fantastic time for me, but I was classed as an import player over there and that made it almost impossible.”

Great Britain international Lyle, now aged 29, has played for Cardiff, Manchester Storm, Guildford Flames, Bracknell Bees, Basingstoke Bison and Belfast Giants and is now back home in Wales.

Head coach Adams has now confirmed the signing of nine players for next season, six of them imports, with four more to come, and he is in talks with a number of other players.